Sunday, 28 June 2015

A Vulcan and a Chaser

27th June.We completed the walk from St Mary’s Island
to Holywell Pond today and were thankful for a cooling breeze along the cliffs
such was the heat of the day.

Birds were generally scarce, although we found a singing Garden Warbler, Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs along the way and we ended
up with a day list in the mid fifties.It was a flying machine in the form of the Vulcan Bomber that stole the
show however and although it was a good way out over the sea when it passed
Seaton Sluice on its way to Scotland
we had a good sighting through binoculars and telescope.Sadly the couple stood nearby us on the
headland hadn’t even realised that the Vulcan had passed!The Vulcan Bomber was of course part of our
defence system during the Cold War years and this one, the last one still
flying over the UK
is soon to be grounded later this year.I’m afraid on this occasion the fourteen Common Scoters flying past were greatly over shadowed by the
Vulcan.

Although the Vulcan clearly took the sighting of the day
award, it was closely followed in second place not by a bird, but an insect in
the form of a Broad BodiedChaser.Sam initially got his eye on a dragonfly as we walked inland from Seaton
Sluice.We worked out quickly what it
was and watched it at length as it perched for periods before taking to fast
flight up and down the area before returning to rest again.Fully aware of our presence there was no way
it was going to give us the opportunity of a close macro image so we took the
opportunity when we could to take a record image from a distance.Despite our failure to be rewarded with a
macro image we enjoyed watching this insect at length before deciding to move
on.Despite the sun there was little
other odonata species in the area apart from Common Blue and Blue tailed
Damselflies.A calling Common Sandpiper was heard by Sam.

Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly

Butterfly species sightings where today a little more
numerous with Small White, Large White, Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell,
Peacock, Speckled Wood (the most
numerous), an early MeadowBrown and Ringlet Butterflies all making an appearance.

Our lack of bird sightings ensured we had plenty of
time for chatting and catching up on recent experiences.At Holywell pond we even resorted to checking
back over two years at some of our self found birds which have included Black
Winged Pratincole, Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Woodcocks over the pond,
Green Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Little Ringed Plovers et al.Nothing like that today though so we settled
for the flock of Lapwings, Grey Heron,
Little Grebes and the other usual pond birds.

About Me

''Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”-- Henry Van Dyke.
If you think the common can be as exciting as the rare then this blog may be for you, as it attempts to express my passion for birds and nature. All are part of my daily life and my home patch is all within walking distance of my home, although I often explore wider areas. I ought to be described as a naturalist rather than a birder. I believe that all who take an interest in nature will be well rewarded, but that such rewards ought not to be without reciprocation. My own contribution is made by volunteering, much of which is done in an attempt to help others share in the experience of the natural world. I attempt to reflect my interest in conservation and the fact that I believe the future of a natural world seriously in trouble relies very much relies on an openness of information to all responsible people. Responsible being the key word, and I therefore hope to keep the welfare of wildlife paramount at all times.